Kentucky Wildcats
Let's start with the good.
Only Auburn has a more impressive set of quality wins than Kentucky (Duke, Gonzaga, Louisville, Florida, Tennessee, Texas A&M). That's the type of résumé that -- in most seasons -- would position a team for a top seed.
Coach Mark Pope needed just a few months to put his stamp on the program in his first season with a roster made up entirely of newcomers. Otega Oweh and Jaxson Robinson have been reliable leaders to give Kentucky the aura of a second-weekend team.
But, Kentucky is one of the worst defensive teams in America. Yes, the Wildcats are second in adjusted offensive efficiency, but they are also 111th in adjusted defensive efficiency on KenPom. For context, they're worse defensively in conference play than last season's Missouri squad, which ended on a 19-game losing streak. Lamont Butler's injury has been a factor but his absence isn't the most significant.
Kentucky is the country's most imbalanced squad. It's capable of near offensive perfection (see its 106-100 win over Florida on Jan. 4) against any opponent. But that defense is so bad, the Wildcats could also be a popular pick to be on the wrong end of an upset (again) in the first round. -- Medcalf
Thoughts for Discussion?
AlohaCat
Let's start with the good.
Only Auburn has a more impressive set of quality wins than Kentucky (Duke, Gonzaga, Louisville, Florida, Tennessee, Texas A&M). That's the type of résumé that -- in most seasons -- would position a team for a top seed.
Coach Mark Pope needed just a few months to put his stamp on the program in his first season with a roster made up entirely of newcomers. Otega Oweh and Jaxson Robinson have been reliable leaders to give Kentucky the aura of a second-weekend team.
But, Kentucky is one of the worst defensive teams in America. Yes, the Wildcats are second in adjusted offensive efficiency, but they are also 111th in adjusted defensive efficiency on KenPom. For context, they're worse defensively in conference play than last season's Missouri squad, which ended on a 19-game losing streak. Lamont Butler's injury has been a factor but his absence isn't the most significant.
Kentucky is the country's most imbalanced squad. It's capable of near offensive perfection (see its 106-100 win over Florida on Jan. 4) against any opponent. But that defense is so bad, the Wildcats could also be a popular pick to be on the wrong end of an upset (again) in the first round. -- Medcalf
Thoughts for Discussion?
AlohaCat
